Chelsea’s pre-season US tour and Arsenal friendly in doubt following Abramovich sanctions

The Blues have been planning their pre-season in recent weeks but with problems around their owner they might have to reassess

Chelsea’s planned tour to the United States to face Arsenal and another unnamed club in pre-season in either Las Vegas or Orlando is in doubt amid the ownership uncertainty.

Blues owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned on Thursday, March 10, as his assets were frozen in a move which effectively paused most of the cash flow in and out of the club.

That is an issue for scheduling the planned games overseas in the summer with huge levels of organisation and cost needed to stage the fixture.